Building construction



Oct. 21, 1941. R. M. NYHAGEN, JR 2,259,829 v BUILDING CONSTRUCTION FiledFeb. 24, 1940 /2 Y [j' d I /4 ,/4 I u /6 n// i 0 l .C @eG *o OQ Q O Qfrz deaf@ c/KW/ @en fr Patented Oct. Z1, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE` f l $59,829 i V I* BUILDNG CONSTRUCTION Y yhagen, Jr., Chicago,Ill.

Y Application February 24, 1940, Serial No. 320,627

Y s claims.` (C1.72--106) This invention relates to buildingconstruction includingwalls comprising structural unitslof stone,'terracotta,tgranite, marble or other materials susceptible of being damagedor ruptured byexcess pressure orweight, andto `means-:for preventingsuchdestruction., d Y Y j Among the objects of my inventionris` to provide afiller or joint that not only Acompresses when a given loadris imposedupon it, but also is adapted to return toward or to its originalposition when the load is lessenedor diminished. The ability of mydevice to expand, spring back or return to or toward `its original`position is based on its own strength in relation to the added orAdecreasedweightimposed or lessened., ,This is accomplishedby designingthis device .to sustain a certain Weight, to br'eak downwhen that weightis exceeded and toexpand `or push back toward its original position whenthe excessl Weight is diminished or lessened.

regulate the maximum load to be imposed on the above mentionedstructural units and to insure that the imposed weight will 'not exceeda vgiven capacity. Also, when this excess Weight is released, as in thecase ofthese structural units having expanded due to temperaturechangesl and imposing an excess weight on theseV units and then acontraction due to opposite temperature changes Vcausing this weight tobe released, my device will have the ability to force this structuralunit tothe pointof Imaintaining the desired, Yintended Weight.Consequently, when the lightening of the weight on these units becomessufficient that there is a' possibility of that undesirable feature, aloose or open joint, my device will possess suicient strength toexpand,thereby maintaining a watertight course and compensationV for themovement resulting from contraction as Well as havingfallowed forprevious movement Vwhich resultedfrom the expansion of the facing units.1 As an example, we will presume that my deviceis designed to carry aload of 100 `pounds per square inch. The structural units have` beensaddled with an excessive load dueto various unavoidable-andever-present movements. My device will compress to that point where thisexcess pressure has been lessened to 100 pounds per square inch on thestruc-A tural units. sume,. creates a contraction in the structuralunits Whichcauses the load to lessen to the point Where there is notenough weight to create a tight bond, which will result in -an opencourse or joint. In'this condition my inventionpret Y An advantageobtained :Irom my device'is to A The next movement, we'will as;

sents enough strength to force itself to thicken` thereby returning thedesired poundper square inch weight to the structural-units; l j

Referring to the drawing, Fig. A1 is a perspective view of mycompressible and expansibl ller; Fig. 2 is a sectional View vof thedevice shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional View of a wall with myfiller therein; Figs. 4 and, 5 -are sectional views of differentembodimentsofmy ller.

The embodiment selected to illustratev my in-` vention in Figs. 1, 2 and3 comprises a compressible and expansible body member Ill having `aplurality of angular sections VI formed bygupwardly inclined portions I2extending to peaksv I3 and continuing on the other side as downwardlyinclined portions I4 to valleys IIL` An envelope or coverv I6 is formedof such a size as4 to substantially inclose the body member Ill and toleave a space kI'I to receive the body member I0 whenever the bodymemberis compressed.'

In Fig. 3a wall I8 is shown with an embedded bolt I9 supporting an angleiron 20, and facing units or blocks 2|, 22 and 273, and mortar, masticor other filling 2li.l y 1 A The body member I is made of sheet metal,metal alloys, rubber or similar elastic material rof sufficient strengthto carry a definite `'weight and break downtat a given point, andals'ovhav'ing suiiicient spring or elastic strength to return toA ortoward its original positionV when that weight is lessened or released.The cover orenvelope I6 is for the purpose of added insurance againstany possible moisture at this level duetov the irregular profile ofthebody member. Also, the cover` is to insure a uniform bearing on which`thev body member may ride. TheV cover is made of metal, metal alloy orother such material of equal or less strengththan the body member I0andl is capable of resisting the attacks of the elements. The space I'Iis advantageous although not absolutely necessary in that it affordsroomrto receive the body member I0 and directs its movement when it iscrushed down' or compressed.

The preferable location for this space is to enable the body member tomove toward the rear or away from the face of the structural units. InFig. 3 my filler is shown at some point above or below the shelf angle2U. This is not necessary and is only for convenience. The shelf anglegzis anchored onto theVweight-carrying column I 8. This is a usual form ofconstruction. The purpose isfor this shelf angle to transfer the WeightAof the facing units (onto theweightcarrying columns at each floor orwherever these shelf angles are placed.

The facing unit 2| cannot always rest on the shelf angle as intended dueto the compression of steel, expansion of stone, faulty setting andother causes. Thus the weight of facing unit 2| together with the weightof the above facing units are thrust upon facing unit 22 which istransferred to the lower facing units, and so on down. At this pointmyller is crushed to the point of permitting facing unit 2| to rest onthe shelf angle 20 Which transfers the weight to structural member |8.The condition of expansion of the stone which has contributed to theexcessrpressure is subject to contraction when the next reversetemperature change occurs. Existing structures make no allowance forthis contractive movement. At this point, when the facing unitscontract, my invention will maintain the weight in the wall by forcingitself toward its original position. If this is not done the facing unit2| will remain on the shelf angle 20 while facing unit 22-will draw awayfrom facingunit 2| This condition will be-repeated at eachv shelf angle.This must occur as the colder temperature has created a shorter distancefrom facing unit 22 above or below than that distance between. shelf.angle 20 and the corresponding shelf angle above or below.

Inv Fig. 4 a slightly different embodiment of my invention discloses abody portion I with a plurality -of sections formed byupwardly inclinedportions |2 extending to peaks..|3 and continuing on the other side asdownwardly inclined portions |I| to valleys |5.-A Atthe end of one ofthe valleys |511 continue :integrally V`with the body portion l0. toform av bent back portion 25. 'Ihis eliminates the need of :a separatecover or envelope I6.

In Fig. 5A my filler is .shown as the body portionV as heretofore-described for -use in the -building construction without a cover lli. Y

This invention is not confined to the above described type ofconstruction, but-alsowhere thefacing units are anchored or. bonded.onto thefloor as well as in wall bearing. structures. While I prefer tovconstruct my joint of a type of-spring steel, steel alloys, fiber,rubber-metal or the like, yet it is within the spirit. of VVmy inventionto construct my jointof any` compressible material with su-flicientstrength-to return to its original position after it has. beencompressed. The preferred shape. of the body member as shown in Fig. 2is of peaksA and valleys.y

However any series of raised portions lmaybe used such as a singleconcave or convexdistortion, a plurality of concave or convexdistortions, multiple or individual springs, tubes, cones, pyramids orangles. The direction orlplacing of the above described shapes and formsmaybe spaced and inter-spaced so often or seldom as desired and in anydirection in relation tothe face.

The ends of the envelope |^6 need not meet as shown in Fig. 1. Theextent of this envelope may cover the body member in entirety or inpart.

Also, the body member I0 may be used by itself withoutthey cover asshown in Fig. 5. In the event the body member |lis used alone it wouldbe desirable to recess Vthe same from the face of the structural uni-tsand Vinsert a suflicient amount of waterproofing-compound to, insure awater-tight course. Also, as shown in Fig. 4 the body member may becontinued so as to produce a distortion with a plain border 25 to befolded onto itself, so that the body member l0 and cover 25 constituteone piece before folding and a single unit after the piece has beenfolded onto itself. 'I'his form may be folded to be a border on one sideor both sides with the distortion down the center, near the center or onone side. This form may be used as often as desired in any height.

By maintaining a constant, uniform weight throughout the various seasonsand conditions and by centralizing the various movements at Va givenpoint, that is, the course at which my filler is placed, there should beno reason to ever have spalls or cracks due to expansion, contraction,compression, settlement, wind stress, faulty setting and otherdestructive movement. Also, the use of my invention eliminatespractically all future tuck-pointing.

My invention contemplates such other objects, advantages andcapabilities as are inherently possessed Aby my invention. While I haveshown and. described herein preferred embodiments-of my invention, yet Iwish it understood that the same are susceptible of modification andchange withoutideparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a buildingconstruction having a wall, a plurality of vertically. spaced shelfangles attached to said wall, a plurality of vvertically arranged;facing units between each shelf angle, the facing unit immediately abovean adjacent shelf angle resting thereon, afplurality of cushion joints,each of said. cushion joints comprising aI body member of resilientmaterial, said body member having a plurality of upwardly anddownwardly. extending portions forming spaced peaks and-valleys, saidcushion joints verticallyospaced and positioned ybetween said facingunits and supporting,V the weight of the facing units thereabove, saidcushion joints adapted to carry a known weight in normal position, tocompressA upon receipt of excess weight and to return .toward andtonormal position upon the lessening and removal of the excess weightthereon. v

2. In a building construction having a wall, a plurality of vertically.spaced shelf angles attached to said wall,a pluralityv of verticallyarranged facing unitsbetween each shelf angle, thefacing unitimmediately above anadjacent shelf angle resting thereon, a plurality ofcushionY joints, each of said cushion joints comprising a body memberofresilient material, said body memberV having a plurality of upwardlyand downwardly extending portions forming spaced peaks and valleysanenvelope. inclosing said body member, said envelope of material lessresilient than said. body member, said envelope having space to receivethe body member in compressed position, said cushion joints verticallyspaced and positioned betweensaid facing units and 4supporting theweight ofthe facing` units thereabove, said cushion joints adapted tocarry a known weight in normal position, to compress upon receipt ofexcess weight, and to return toward and tonormal position upon thelessening and removal ofthe excess Weight thereon.

3. In a building construction having a wall, aplurality of verticallyspaced shelfl angles attached to saidl wall, a plurality of verticallyarranged facing units between each shelf angle, the facing unitimmediately above an adjacent shelf angle resting thereon, a pluralityof cushion joints, each of said cushion joints comprising a body memberof resilient material, said body member having a plurality of upwardlyand downwardly extending portions forming spaced peaks and Valleys, saidbody member bent back 5 on itself to form a substantially straight coverportion, said cushion joints vertically spaced and positioned betweensaid facing units and sup- RICHARD M. NYHAGEN, JR.

